# NTSB ANC04LA060: Cessna 180E, N5180, Kenai, AK, June 3, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 2, 2004, 20:10 local (Jun 3, 2004, 04:10 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.573055, -151.244995 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5731&lon=-151.2450&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59375 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59375/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind condition and his failure to maintain directional control which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop and nose over. A factor contributing to the accident was a direct crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - runway - Nose over, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot was departing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported he was aware of a left crosswind that was near the limit for his airplane. The pilot indicated that he applied takeoff power and about 350 feet into the takeoff roll, the tailwheel lifted off the runway. The airplane began to veer to the left and the pilot pulled the engine power to idle and attempted to correct the left turn by application of brakes and flight controls. The airplane ground looped to the left, and the right wing struck the runway. The airplane then nosed over and received damage to the propeller, right wing, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder. The wind conditions consisted of a direct left crosswind at 14 knots, with gusts to 21 knots. ## Factual narrative On June 2, 2004, about 2010 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 180E airplane, N5180, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped and nosed over during an aborted takeoff at the Kenai Municipal Airport, Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight to Fairbanks, Alaska, under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 2, the pilot reported that he was departing on runway 19R in his tailwheel-equipped airplane. He said he was aware of a left crosswind that was near the limit for his airplane. The pilot indicated that he applied takeoff power, and about 350 feet into the takeoff roll, the tailwheel lifted off the runway. The airplane began to veer to the left and the pilot pulled the engine power to idle and attempted to correct the left turn by application of brakes and flight controls. The pilot said the airplane ground looped to the left, and the right wing struck the runway. The airplane then nosed over and received damage to the propeller, right wing, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder. At 1953, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Kenai was reporting in part: Wind, 110 degrees (true) at 14 knots, gusts to 21 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 61 degrees F; dew point, 30 degrees F; altimeter, 29.96 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5180](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5180), registered now, S/N 18051077, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180E - Registry model: [Cessna 180E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180e) (registry code 2072612) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051077 - Airframe hours: 4866 - Engines: Continental O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert W. Everts - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 2003, 18 hours before - Departed: PAEN, Kenai, AK - Destination: PAFA, Fairbanks, AK - Airport: PAEN, Kenai Municipal Airport, runway 19R, 7,575 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; flight engineer, private, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 10, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 20 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 14 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: PAEN ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040602014339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040602014339A), Jun 2, 2004: Cessna 180E, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) N5180, Cessna 180E, received substantial damage during an aborted take-off. The pilot said the winds were very gusty and as the aircraft started to turn… ## Other investigations on N5180 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI70D0267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70D0267), Apr 17, 1969: Cessna 180 (N5180), Chippewa Fall, WI, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.